No one wants to run over an animal, but that risk heightens substantially with poor visibility and at certain times of the year. Late fall and early winter begins the deer mating season, with a rise in activity at dusk. Large animals like bears are also more active at dusk and dawn. Insurance companies estimate that over 1.25 million deer-car collisions occurred in the United States between July 2014 and June 2015. Each insurance claim averaged about $4,000. In states like Tennessee, the animal struck by a car is most often a deer. They become very active at dusk, which makes them more prone to wander onto the highway, and less likely to be seen.
What should I do if I hit a large animal on the highway?
Technically, striking a deer with a car is labeled a traffic crash or accident. If the animal is lying in traffic lanes or creating a hazard to other drivers, you must alert authorities to remove it. If passengers are injured or your car is damaged, emergency vehicles will be called and the car will be towed. It is important to document the accident, if you are able. Take plenty of pictures of the car damages and any injuries passengers sustain. If there are witnesses, have their testimonies documented.
In order to process a deer-car crash, an insurance company will require proof that the accident actually involved a deer. Call the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to further document the incident, even though this is not legally required.
Large animal vehicle crashes are not always avoidable, particularly at high speeds on freeways, but you can be prepared. Here are some tips:
